Widely regarded as a broadcasting landmark, this thrilling
dramatization by Brian Sibley and Michael Bakewell boasts a truly
outstanding cast, including Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens,
and John Le Mesurier. Tolkien's tale relates the perilous attempt by
Frodo Baggins and company to defeat the evil Sauron and dispose of the
Ruling Ring.
Brian Sibley, one of the original dramatists, wrote
the opening and closing narration for the character of Frodo, played by
Ian Holm, who now stars as Bilbo in the feature films based on The Lord
of the Rings.
This program includes a bonus CD featuring Stephen Oliver's complete music score and a demo version of John Le Mesurier singing Bilbo's Last Song.
Reviewer:
BlueMHart
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 17, 2025 Subject:
A very impressive adaptation
I very much enjoyed listening to this take on The Lord of the Rings, especially having just finished reading the book for the first time recently. Ian
...
Holm and Michael Hordern were both OUTSTANDING in their respective roles as Frodo and Gandalf. The only performance I couldn't get into was Robert Stephens as Aragorn- I'm a little too fond of Viggo Mortensen's take from the films, though I think Stephens probably fit the role better to what was described in the book. The music was great, especially the opening credits theme, and I had no problem with the audio quality.
Morning, I have the CDs from the original broadcast (and the cassettes too). In comparison, these digital copies sound tinny / thin with some warble.
...
I did tried the different audio formats (but not all). I'm glad these are available for everyone to experience. My rating is for the audio quality, not the production itself, which is 5 stars! Bob
This is so wonderful that I have listened to it here dozens of times, and cannot seem to stop listening again and again. I am so entranced with the story,
...
and get something out of it new every time.
Reviewer:
LaHi890
-
September 1, 2024 Subject:
Torrent not working
I need a torrent for this. The one provided is not working.
Reviewer:
Bookuman
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 19, 2024 (edited)
Subject:
Quite an awesome adaptation!
I like the part where the Gaffer casually reprimands a Nazgûl like he's some annoying door to door salesman.
Reviewer:
Safeharbour632
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 22, 2024 Subject:
The BBC radio series is excellent
What wonderful actors, and the actor playing Gollum would surely have stolen the Oscar! This revised adaptation has some flaws - spends far too long on
...
Gollum being tortured at the beginning (could have cut that out - it's offputting to listeners) and some of the interminable monologues Sibley seems to have added for Ian Holm don't do anything to help comprehension and could all be omitted. But on the whole still a great production. Michael Hordern is still the definitive Gandalf setting the bar for Ian McKellen later. I would hesitate recommending to some friends I know who would lose patience at the flawed parts mentioned above, but I still listen to this as a great bit of escapism. Bill Nighy as Sam is the friend we all wish we could have, just wonderful.
Reviewer:
NemoNebulosus
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 8, 2023 Subject:
Excellent!
I listened to this as it was first broadcast and was very pleased to see it available here. It is a magnificent production and will always be definitive
...
for me. I downloaded the MP3 files with no problem. One thing I missed with the speech-only edit is the music that began and ended each broadcast episode. This is available in tracks 98 or so.
Reviewer:
Robert Quarton
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 21, 2023 Subject:
Great Dramatization of the Lord of the Rings
I have the box set of CDs which are out on loan. This is a great recording as well from Internet Archive.
Reviewer:
Lloyd Thomas
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 3, 2022 (edited)
Subject:
Cast List, in case you are curious
The cast for the production was: Narrator (UK version): Gerard Murphy Frodo Baggins: Ian Holm Gandalf the Grey/Gandalf the White: Michael Hordern Aragorn
...
(Strider): Robert Stephens Sam Gamgee: Bill Nighy (credited as William Nighy) Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry): Richard O'Callaghan Peregrin Took (Pippin): John McAndrew Legolas: David Collings Gimli: Douglas Livingstone Boromir: Michael Graham Cox Galadriel: Marian Diamond Celeborn: Simon Cadell Arwen Evenstar: Sonia Fraser Saruman the White: Peter Howell Elrond: Hugh Dickson Bilbo Baggins: John Le Mesurier Gollum/Sméagol: Peter Woodthorpe Théoden: Jack May …….the list, like the road, goes on and on.
Reviewer:
The Forester
-
favorite -
May 20, 2022 Subject:
Forget it. Thought it might be a good idea, but no!
I tried to download this at least 10 times and despite having superfast and stable broadband it either gave me 12 hours to download, or an hour, but would
...
then stop and "complete" at about 10% through - on the better ones! Perhaps if I tried it every 6 hours I might finally get a time when the server can cope with the traffic. But who has that time and patience? I've given up; I'll just buy it instead. 5 star content, no star service.
Reviewer:
PsychoPet540
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 18, 2022 Subject:
Best
👍👍👍
Reviewer:
Clarks123
-
favoritefavoritefavorite -
April 15, 2022 Subject:
Lord of the ring
Really cool
Reviewer:
VikingRayne
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 16, 2022 Subject:
Lord of the rings
It's Tolkien need I say more, my absolute favorite author, amazing story
Reviewer:
Plant_Boy
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 13, 2022 Subject:
Missing files in Torrent?
I've just downloaded the files using the Torrent, are "J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings Book 1- The Fellowship of the Ring - Disc 1 - *.flac" and
...
"J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings Book 1- The Fellowship of the Ring - Disc 2 - [01-03].flac" missing?
Reviewer:
Tushar554
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 6, 2022 Subject:
The lord of ring
It's to good
Reviewer:
Patrycja Mazur
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 1, 2022 Subject:
Ok
Jak dla mnie jest ok
Reviewer:
Mhie Ann
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 26, 2022 Subject:
The lord of the Rings
I love this 😍
Reviewer:
Audição
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 24, 2022 Subject:
Senhor dos Anéis
Toda introdução conduz uma análise do que possa vir a ser todo contexto, fazendo se envolver na trama.
Reviewer:
The Evan
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 18, 2022 Subject:
The Lord of the Rings
I love the book.
Reviewer:
Flores755
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 17, 2022 Subject:
The Lord of the Rinfs
Is fantastic
Reviewer:
matome mashamaite
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 11, 2022 Subject:
The Lord of the rings
Cool friction story.. I love it
Reviewer:
Andang08
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 9, 2022 Subject:
Kgzhkdpufuf
Xlgxlhdludpudlulc
Reviewer:
Karla Correa661
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 8, 2022 Subject:
Interessante
Muito bom
Reviewer:
oolalekan17 oolalekan17
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 8, 2022 Subject:
Lord of the rings
Very interesting I love this so much
Reviewer:
Bartek Glab
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 4, 2022 Subject:
Ok
Super
Reviewer:
Winter Habagat
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 3, 2022 Subject:
Lord of the rings
Prefer no introduction..sort of gives the ending away Otherwise love it
Reviewer:
mischelle ishiguro
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 14, 2021 Subject:
Love this
Thank u
Reviewer:
Badrdine Chioua
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 7, 2021 Subject:
La dramatisation de BBC.en 1981.
C est un homme merveilleux
Reviewer:
Michael Clata
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 15, 2021 Subject:
Amaze
Cool
Reviewer:
Mark Allen Belfast
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 29, 2021 Subject:
Best version ever
The music, sound effects and accents, all together in a truly professional production. My only concern is that it gives pausing, I have to open my phone
...
and hit the play button. A nuisance when out walking the hound.
Reviewer:
AncientMorgoth
-
favoritefavoritefavorite -
December 12, 2020 Subject:
Bad torrent, missing 26 files
The torrent is missing 26 files: - book 1 - disc 1 - all 8 tracks - book 1 - disc 2 - tracks 1 to 3 - music album - tracks 5 to 19 I opened the torrent
...
file in an hex editor to make sure, and these files do not appear in it.
Reviewer:
Acrux2
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 11, 2020 Subject:
Fantastic!
This is wonderful to see here. I've owned the official CDs for many years, but they do not include the short introduction by Bilbo. Truly, the greatest
...
Lord of the Rings adaption (yes, even better than the one you're thinking of).
Reviewer:
Mike229
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 6, 2020 Subject:
Thank you
Thank you for making this available - I remember trying to record it when it was originally broadcast. Nearly 40 years ago - and I can still remember the
...
excitement of listening each week, and trying to record it on cassettes!
Reviewer:
PCH2017
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 8, 2020 Subject:
Thank you sharing for this splendid edition in its entirety
I never dreamed I'd see this set here, in FLAC no less. I listened to this series on NPR, narrated by Tammy Grimes, when it first came out. I was a student
...
so I missed many episodes. I later bought the CD set and was finally able to listen to the whole series. My wife, who was unfamiliar with the books, loved it and later read the trilogy. This is the definitive dramatization of the trilogy, barring none. Unlike the 'Hollywoodized' movies, it is virtually 100% faithful to the books and includes the songs AND the all-important ‘The Scouring of the Shire’ chapter from the books––Tolkien: "…It is an essential part of the plot, foreseen from the outset…", and Saruman does not commit suicide. Thank you sharing for this splendid edition in its entirety.
Reviewer:
johnnyblade
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 5, 2020 Subject:
Thanks for uploading the FLAC files!
This is pristine quality, including introductory parts not available on many releases, along with the bonus disc of original music from the BBC presentation.
...
Truly well done—the best version of the BBC LoTR 1981 dramatization available on archive, with no compression artifact. Thanks to the generous uploader. It took some time and effort to do this right.